Desperate country supermarkets are forced to hire BOUNCERS to stop panic buyers from the city buying up all their produce

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A supermarket in regional Australia has been forced to hire bouncers to check customers for proof they are locals as panic buyers stream in from the big cities.

Williamson's Foodworks in Gisborne, in regional Victoria, has seen hundreds of customers from Melbourne - more than 56 kilometres away - descend on the store. 

Owner David Williamson said it was nearly impossible to find a car space, and traffic has become banked up by out-of-towners flocking to stock up at Gisborne's three supermarkets.

Mr Williamson has even fired two security guards to stand with other staff members at the entrance and check customers' IDs.

Williamson's Foodworks in Gisborne, in regional Victoria, has seen hundreds of customers from drive 56km from Melbourne to clear out the store's shelves 

A supermarket in regional Australia has been forced to hire bouncers to check customers for proof they are locals as panic buyers stream in from the big cities 

General view outside a Woolworths in Sunbury as people wait outside on Tuesday 

'We've had a couple of really irate customers. Ultimately, they weren't my customers because they didn't have cards, but others in line were sticking up for the store and the family I suppose,' he told The Age. 

'From an industry point of view we can't cope with it. It's just so far out of control. We can't get enough stock for a normal week, let alone for panic buying.' 

'People say 'I'd love to own a supermarket now'. Yeah, not really. You've got elderly people who can't even get toilet paper, let alone basic food items.

Coles at Woodend, about 70 kilometres north-west of the city, has also been inundated with residents from Melbourne clearing out shelves. 

The issue has caused stress and frustration among elderly shoppers, many of which find it difficult to make frequent visits to supermarkets for essential goods. 

Panic-buying sparked by the spread of coronavirus in Australia has seen supermarkets stripped of toilet paper, pasta, rice and frozen food, as well as tinned and other dried goods. 

In a desperate bid to get ahead of the crowd of customers, the local supermarket has pleaded for outsiders to stay away for a few days so elderly residents could buy necessities.

Some panic-buyers went into the store a number of times to get around purchase limits.  

Meanwhile, a spokesperson from Coles said they would be looking into extra security measures in the wake of recent panic buying.

'Coles takes the wellbeing of our customers and team members seriously and we are constantly reviewing security measures to manage the unprecedented levels of demand we are seeing in our stores,' he said.

'We ask that customers to continue to show compassion towards fellow customers and team members at this challenging time.'

Panic-buying sparked by the spread of coronavirus in Australia has seen supermarkets stripped of toilet paper, pasta, rice and frozen food, as well as tinned and other dried goods. Pictured: Aldi in Sydney 

Australians are sharing the stark reality of buying groceries in 2020 as the coronavirus pandemic grips the world

Scott Morrison said the panic-buying chaos sweeping grocery stores across the country has been one of the 'most disappointing things' he has seen

Scott Morrison is also urging Australians to stop hoarding food and other supplies.

The prime minister said the panic-buying chaos sweeping grocery stores across the country has been one of the 'most disappointing things' he has seen.

'That is not who we are as a people. It is not necessary. It is not something that people should be doing,' he said as he addressed the nation on Wednesday.

'What it does is it is distracting attention and efforts that need to be going into other measures, to be focusing on how we maintain supply chains into these shopping centres.

'It's ridiculous. It's un-Australian, and it must stop, and I would ask people to do the right thing by each other in getting a handle on these sorts of practices.' 

He also asked people to refrain from 'abusing staff', as footage emerged online of customers verbally attacking supermarket employees because they couldn't locate goods.

Coles on Wednesday held its first 'community hour' for seniors and pension card holders from 7-8am at its stores nationwide, before opening to everyone else.

People with government-issued concession cards on Tuesday flocked to Woolworths, which implemented a similar measure, and IGA is considering whether to roll out the same.